Rugby: Sydney Convicts tackle homophobia with historic match

Luke Carpenter (centre) of the Sydney Convicts, an all gay rugby team, runs between Dan Cooper (left) and Peter Bui (right) of Macquarie University at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 6, 2014. Wallabies great John Eales hailed the courage and spirit of the Sydney Convicts on Sunday, after they became the first gay rugby team in the world to play on the same bill as a professional match. -- PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) - Wallabies great John Eales hailed the courage and spirit of the Sydney Convicts on Sunday, after they became the first gay rugby team in the world to play on the same bill as a professional match.

The Convicts defeated Macquarie University 30-12 in the curtain-raiser to the New South Wales Waratahs' Super Rugby win over the Otago Highlanders at Sydney's Allianz Stadium.

The game was part of efforts by Australia's professional sports to tackle homophobia. Eales said Sunday's historic match was a huge step forward for sport in Australia.

"It's always disappointing to hear stories of people who don't play sports because they fear discrimination," the former Wallabies captain and two-time Rugby World Cup winner told reporters at the ground.